The Tomb of Bastet is a small, water-filled cave in the Strandzha forest about 3 km west-south-west of Malko Tarnovo, at the foot of Golyamo Gradishte peak and close to the Turkish border. Despite the name, it is not an excavated tomb: the name comes from a local legend, not from any archaeological find.
The story goes that in 1981 a local man found a map pointing to the burial place of Bastet, the cat-headed Egyptian goddess, that it passed to Lyudmila Zhivkova and the prophetess Vanga, and that a black granite sarcophagus lies somewhere under the hill. No official record or published excavation supports any of it. That has not stopped visitors from leaving coins and small cat figurines by the entrance.
The walk starts from a signposted turn-off on the road from Malko Tarnovo towards the border crossing, where you leave the car. A path of about 20 minutes leads through beech forest to the cave. The summit of Golyamo Gradishte, with a wooden viewing platform and the remains of a Thracian fortress, is about ten minutes further on. Off-road vehicles have rutted parts of the track, so wear proper shoes, especially after rain.
Come for the forest walk, the view from the peak and the curiosity of the story. The cave itself is small and flooded, so this is a look from the entrance rather than a cave visit.
Burgas region
3.4 km away
Burgas region
6.0 km away
Burgas region
10.0 km away
Burgas region
10.1 km away
The Tomb of Bastet is located in Burgas, Bulgaria.
The Tomb of Bastet is most easily reached by car. Use the coordinates above to navigate, or open the location in OpenStreetMap or your preferred maps app for turn-by-turn directions. Public transport options vary by region — for remote destinations a rental car gives the most flexibility.
Caves can be visited year-round — the temperature inside stays roughly 10–12°C regardless of season. Spring and autumn are quieter than peak summer. Bring a warm layer and sturdy footwear; some caves close in winter when access roads become impassable.
Access to caves varies. Show caves typically run guided tours during posted opening hours; wild caves require proper equipment and experience. Inside, the temperature stays cool year-round (~10–12°C) — bring a warm layer, sturdy non-slip footwear, and a torch even on guided tours.
